New London fire lieutenant suspended on shoplifting charges

New London — Mayor Daryl Justin Finizio on Tuesday announced the suspension without pay of fire department Lt. Rocco Basilica because of his arrest last month on a shoplifting charge.

Finizio, in a statement, said the city became aware of Basilica's June 25 arrest on Monday. After discussions with Chief Administration Officer Jane Glover, Fire Chief Henry Kydd and representatives from the city's insurer, he said he approved Kydd's recommendation to suspend Basilica without pay until final determination in his court case.

"This decision is consistent with city personnel policies when these situations occur," Finizio said.

Basilica, president of the city's Firefighters Union Local 1522, was arrested June 25 with his wife for allegedly shoplifting at the University of Connecticut Co-op bookstore in Storrs. They were each charged by UConn police with sixth-degree larceny.

According to a UConn arrest log, Basilica and his wife were detained after he allegedly left the store without paying for a total of $81.93 in items — key chains, T-shirts, a pair of socks and a plastic cup. Police also allege his wife left the store without paying for a UConn T-shirt valued at $24.99.

Basilica was slated to be out on workers' compensation starting Monday. The reason for his workers' compensation claim was not disclosed, though the city said he was also out from June 30 through July 10.

"All payments from the City of New London will be suspended and any Workers' Compensation payments will be decided by the Workers' Compensation Commission," Finizio said.

The Basilicas' cases are pending in Rockville Superior Court, where they have applied for a program for first-time offenders in which they could wind up with clean criminal records.